The Xinjiang Flying Tigers secured their spot in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Playoffs quarterfinals after edging out the Nanjing Monkey Kings 113-108 on Monday, clinching the best-of-three first-round series 2-0. Meanwhile, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls leveled their series with the Qingdao Eagles at 1-1, forcing a decisive Game Three.
Despite the absence of injured core guard Zhao Rui and key center Li Yanzhe, Xinjiang showcased resilience. All five starters scored in double figures, with Dedric Lawson leading the way with 24 points. Qi Lin added 18 points to the tally.
Nanjing, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, started strong with intense defensive pressure, causing several turnovers from Xinjiang. The Monkey Kings capitalized on the Flying Tigers’ early struggles, but Xinjiang responded in the third quarter with a remarkable shooting display. Hitting 10 of 13 shots from beyond the arc, the Flying Tigers overturned the deficit and entered the final period with a nine-point lead.
Facing elimination, the Monkey Kings launched a late comeback attempt. Lin Wei delivered an impressive performance with 24 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists, while Zeng Fanri contributed 17 points and eight rebounds. However, Xinjiang’s solid defensive rebounding in the closing moments secured the victory and their progression to the next round.
In another matchup, the Zhejiang Golden Bulls dominated the Qingdao Eagles with a 104-81 win. Damian Jones was a force on both ends of the court, recording a double-double of 24 points and 18 rebounds. The Eagles’ young prospect Yang Hansen struggled with foul trouble, fouling out early in the fourth quarter and finishing with just two points and four rebounds.
The series between Zhejiang and Qingdao is now tied, setting the stage for an exhilarating Game Three. The winner will advance to face the top-seeded Guangsha Lions in the quarterfinals.
Next up, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers will challenge the Liaoning Flying Leopards in what promises to be a captivating quarterfinal series.
